Vplusplus is coming.
Although the VPlus programme has ended, support and skills training for those 113 young trainees with disabilities in Gulu and surrounding districts does not stop. With funding from private individuals and ETC of PWD trustees, Vplusplus @GDPU has just begun. This is so that Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) can give long term Post Training support to all graduates. The first steps have been carried out: Reflection Meetings and trips to the field; to liaise with them all, What will help them succeed in the future? What will get them, their families and their community to a sustainable life?
Out To The Field
Formal support trips have begun too, visiting all those graduates in their places of work, or not work as the case maybe. And to discuss with each person what training might help them – core skills perhaps– the latest hairstyles for hairdressers, how to mend the different motorbikes in your area; different techniques for sweater weavers etc. Inevitably literacy and numeracy – book keeping/ invoicing that sort of thing.
Innovation
The new areas brought in for Vplusplus include training members of the family to temporarily produce your goods when your disability prevents you from working yourself. Also, peer support: creating local networks with other people with disabilities banding together for practical and moral support, particularly useful for sweater weavers, for example, whose work is seasonal and intensive when the demand comes.
The Vital Role for the Guidance Counsellor
Vplusplus field visits also allow the Guidance Counsellor to give support, encouragement, to identify and follow up Safeguarding incidents. Sadly, abuse is, a constant factor in the lives of these graduates. Sometimes that abuse comes from members of the family, sometimes from colleagues at work; often it comes from both. The solutions involve discussion, advocacy, alerting the relevant authorities where necessary, finding safe refuge, medical aid and more; changing the mindset, as the team puts it, is a very slow process
The first monthly report from the Vplusplus team in Gulu:
| What went well? We linked up with our beneficiaries in Gulu, Omoro and Nwoya The Knitting group in Nwoya can afford to shift to a better house, along the main road to Anaka Town Council. Diversification of work witnessed during the follow up visit: many members are doing side business to support their main skills. Well facilitated to conduct the activities. Able to identify skills and gaps that exist among the youth. We managed to identify some key safeguarding issues. What challenges did you have? We faced challenges of mobilisation: some students are not at home; others take so long in the garden, they are still not at home. Some parents are not supporting their children. Some students are not employed or starting their own business. Some students are failing to pay back the revolving capital. Sometimes you get disappointed seeing a student not engaged in work. Long distances and sitting on the bike for long period of time. Bad weather keeps you too long in the field waiting for the rain to stop. Lessons learnt and recommendations for future trainings: Students do better when they work in a group. We were impressed that the team in Nyowa are doing so well, because they have a strong team spirit. They are always willing to support one another, physically, financially and emotionally. Those who have mobile phone are doing quite well; they get in touch with their friends for more business connection and networking. Where trainees are earning some money, their lives are improving and they are being valued by their parents and relatives. |
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Many Thanks.
ETC of PWD 